USA Dot Com is a blog covering politics and government from a conservative Christian perspective. Verne Strickland is a 50-year veteran of investigative journalism. This blog offers a take-no-prisoners style with a modicum of biting satire. Verne and his wife of 55 years, Durrene, live in Wilmington, NC.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 16, 2012

U.S. ambassador and three others killed by militants

No U.S. Marines were in Libya
when protesters stormed a diplomatic mission in the eastern city of
Benghazi and killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans late
Tuesday, a senior Obama administration official said Saturday.

The
official’s comments were intended to correct previous statements by
administration officials who said a small contingent of Marines was
stationed at State Department facilities in the North African nation.

The
U.S. diplomatic compound breached Tuesday by Libyan protesters in
Benghazi had a relatively light security posture compared to diplomatic
facilities in other conflict zones.

“The State Department
has the lead for embassy security around the world. Naturally, if they
ask for our advice in given situations, we’ll offer it up, no question
about it,” Mr. Little said in response to a question about who plans security at embassies and diplomatic facilities.

Part
of the reason Marines were not stationed at the Benghazi compound is
that it is not an embassy or consulate, but a “diplomatic mission,”
officials said.

In some conflict zones, State Department
officials work in buildings other than embassies or consulates in order
to conduct “expeditionary diplomacy” — establishing an initial presence
and building a relationship with locals, as in post-revolution Libya, officials said.

Senior administration officials described the facility in Benghazi as an “interim” one that the State Department
had acquired before the fall of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, consisting of
a main building and several ancillary buildings, as well as an annex
farther away.

The Pentagon has deployed a 50-man Marine platoon to the Libyan capital of Tripoli to protect U.S. citizens and the embassy.

“If called upon, we would obviously provide support to our State Department colleagues to provide additional security at embassies,” Mr. Little said.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 15, 2012

The Video Didn’t Do It

It was bad enough, two years
ago, that Defense Secretary Robert Gates called fringe Florida pastor
Terry Jones to ask him not to burn copies of the Koran, or last week,
that chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Martin Dempsey took his turn to
call Jones to ask him to stop publicizing a YouTube video, The Innocence
of Muslims.

But then on Friday, White House spokesman Jay Carney told
the world that the violent protests in Cairo and Ben­ghazi and elsewhere
were a “response not to United States policy, and not obviously the
administration or the American people,” but were “in response to a
video, a film we have judged to be reprehensible and disgusting.” Carney
repeated the point for emphasis: “This is not a case of protests
directed at the United States at large or at U.S. policy, but in
response to a video that is offensive to Muslims.”

Getty Images

Carney’s
comments lie outside the range of plausible spin, even by Obama
administration standards, and if his bosses believe them—as we fear they
do—are simply delusional. But they are not without consequence. Nor are
Gates’s and Dempsey’s phone calls. They all send the message to
America’s enemies that if you kill our diplomats and lay siege to the
our embassies, the first move the American government will make is to
denounce . . . Americans. Our leaders apparently believe that the way
to protect Americans from extremists and terrorists abroad is to tell
other Americans to shut up.

What’s next? Where does it go from here? There are more than 300
million ways in which Americans expressing themselves might give offense at those who make it their business to be offended. Maybe it’s some
other film, maybe it’s a book or even just a tossed-off phrase that our
enemies might seize on to galvanize support for their causes.

Is the
White House going to put every American crank on speed-dial so it can
tell them to shut up whenever a mob gathers outside a U.S. embassy or
consulate?

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 14, 2012

UPDATE:
A Marine spokesperson at the Pentagon denied reports that U.S. Marines
defending the American embassy in Egypt were not permitted by the State
Department to carry live ammunition in a statement to Fox News Thursday.

Pentagon Lt. Col. Chris Hughes told the outlet: “The ambassador and
RSO (Regional Security Officer) have been completely and appropriately
engaged with the security situation. No restrictions on weapons or
weapons status have been imposed. This information comes from the Det
Commander at AMEMB (American Embassy) Cairo.”

The statement came in response to reports that U.S. Marines defending
the American embassy in Egypt were not permitted by the State
Department to carry live ammunition.

Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson “did not permit U.S. Marine guards to carry live ammunition,” according to multiple reports
on U.S. Marine Corps blogs spotted by Nightwatch. “She neutralized any
U.S. military capability that was dedicated to preserve her life and
protect the US Embassy.”

Time magazine’s Battleland blog also reported
Thursday that “senior U.S. officials late Wednesday declined to discuss
in detail the security at either Cairo or Benghazi, so answers may be
slow in coming.”

If true, the reports indicate that Patterson shirked her obligation to protect U.S. interests, Nightwatch states.
“She did not defend U.S. sovereign territory and betrayed her oath of
office,” the report states. “She neutered the Marines posted to defend
the embassy, trusting the Egyptians over the Marines.”

While Marines are typically relied on to defend U.S. territory
abroad, such as embassies, these reports indicate that the Obama
administration was relying on Egypt’s new Muslim Brotherhood-backed
government to ensure American security, a move observers are questioning
as violence in Cairo continues to rage.

Marc Toner, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson, did not respond to a request for comment from the Free Beacon. White House National Security Council spokesperson Tommy Vietor also did not respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. ambassador to any nation ultimately decides whether Marines
are authorized to carry ammunition, according to a GOP national security
adviser knowledgeable about American embassy protocols.

“In the end, the ambassador of any country has the final call on what
to do in a country,” the source said. “The buck stops with you. You
make every decision.”

Security procedures are subjective and subject to change depending on locale, the source said. Each ambassador, in consultation with their Regional Security Officer
(RSO), sets the policy regarding the rules of engagement, according to
the adviser. The RSO is responsible for coordinating all security
measures and reports directly to the ambassador in any given nation.

“A decision or order to set rules of engagement that you can’t carry
live ammunition and can’t engage violent crowds climbing over your walls
and tearing down your flag stems from direct orders from the Chief of
Mission and possibly whoever the Chief of Mission reports to,” the
source explained.

Given that the siege of the Cairo embassy unfolded over many hours,
the source wondered if new orders pertaining to the rules of engagement
were ever issued.

Ambassador Patterson was in Washington D.C. during the attacks, according to reports.

“I cannot believe that over an eight hour period that nobody … in
that chain of command did not ask those questions of their superiors,”
the source said. “These protestors did not just appear and within 20
minutes climb the wall.”

Several sources familiar with foreign embassies in international hotspots who contacted the Free Beacon
said that the U.S. government often adheres to a policy of not
permitting security officers and other personnel to carry loaded
weapons.

Others indicated that in some instances, embassy personnel were prohibited from carrying weapons on embassy grounds altogether.

The Free Beacon will continue to update this report as events warrant.

CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE DAN FOREST IS ON A 70-COUNTY TOUR ADVANCING THE IDEAS AND PROGRAMS HE INTENDS TO BRING TO THE OFFICE HE SEEKS. THE MAIN THRUST IS JOB CREATION AND BUSINESS GROWTH FOR THE STATE.

LT. GOV. CANDIDATE DAN FOREST

By Verne Strickland / September 13, 2012

Dan Forest has got it all where endurance, commitment and
focus are concerned.

To say that he “dropped by” the New Hanover County
Republican Headquarters in Wilmington this week is to miss the big picture.

Forest is the GOP candidate for Lieutenant Governor in North
Carolina, and is currently on a 70-county tour of the State – his third in this
campaign cycle – advancing the ideas and programs he intends to bring to the
office he seeks.

“We had a tour before the first primary, then with our
second primary and talked about a broad range of issues,” he said. “This tour
is more specific -- it’s more about economic development, job creation,
business growth for the state – reaching business owners, development
officials, and leaders of commerce, about their needs and concerns for the
economy. This is what is needed to really spur growth in each county or region,
and we think that is a role that executive leadership in government can take
on.”

The spacious New Hanover Republican “Victory” office is
located at Independence Mall on Oleander Drive, and casual visitors are
surprised to see a political organization located among the clothing stores,
doughnut shops, cable franchises, and the usual commercial businesses.

“We make everybody feel at home,” said Rhonda Amoroso,
chairwoman of the New Hanover County Republican Party. “Most of those who stop
by, though, are on a mission to pick up yard signs, bumper stickers, literature,
and to volunteer to make phone calls, knock on doors, and write letters. It’s a
busy place.”

Candidate Forest stayed for an hour or so, during which time
he visited with staff and volunteers, and was interviewed by a television crew
as well as political internet bloggers.

“We’ve been to a lot of Victory offices across the state,
and this may be the most effective and attractive I’ve seen. It’s a unique risk
to take, being in a mall, and there has been a lot of walk-in traffic, which is
very interesting, the phone banks are full, and there are over a dozen
volunteers out canvassing the neighborhoods,” he noted.

“This kind of personal contact with voters is good for the
party. The wind is really at our backs, and we can’t take that for granted. We
have to work hard and smart during these last few weeks leading up to the
election. Everything is on the line for America, all the things that we hold so
dear, and we want to avoid at all costs falling into a generation of Socialism
for the country. It’s right here at the grassroots level where we make our
stand to preserve the nation we love and move forward to a better future.”

Amoroso had high praise for conservative candidate Dan
Forest: “He’s smart, trustworthy, likeable, committed, and has impeccable conservative
credentials. We are very proud of him. He will do well in this important
election.”

Dan Forest is the Republican nominee for the office of North Carolina
Lt. Governor. He earned the Republican nomination by winning a commanding
96 of 100 NC counties in the second (July 17th) primary election after
traveling over 150,000 miles and visiting nearly all 100 counties during the
campaign. Dan is a leader in the business community having served as
Office President and Senior Partner of the state's largest architectural firm.
Dan is active in his community and church and is the founder and current
president of the Triangle Leadership Forum and the former chairman of the board
of Wake Forest Pregnancy Support Services. Dan and his wife,Alice have Dan
and his wife, Alice, reside in Raleigh, along with their four children, ages 7
- 19.

a film they say offends Islam,
attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.

(STR / AFP / Getty Images / September 11, 2012)

(Verne: I found "news" photo of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens being abused in the streets, but could not in good conscience use it on my blog USA DOT COM.)

By Russell Berman
-

THE HILL 09/12/12 02:20 PM ET

A group of House conservatives is calling for foreign aid to
Libya and Egypt to be stripped from a six-month federal funding bill set
for a vote on Thursday.

A handful of lawmakers voiced outrage
Wednesday at the Obama administration’s response to the attacks on the
U.S. embassies in those countries, and suggested the inclusion of
foreign aid could influence their votes.

“It makes it easier to vote ‘no’ ” on the spending bill, freshman Rep.
Jeff Landry (R-La.) said at a press event with conservative House
Republicans at the Capitol.

The House on Thursday plans to vote
on a continuing resolution that would extend federal funding through
March, preventing a government shutdown before the election or during a
lame-duck session of Congress this fall.

While conservatives pushed to
avoid a shutdown fight, they have also raised alarms about the inclusion
of additional welfare funding in the bill.

“It would show a
tremendous amount of leadership from this administration, in light of
the recent developments, if the president were to come back and demand
that the amount of money that is in the [continuing resolution] for
Libya and Egypt be stripped. That would be tremendous leadership,”
Landry said.

Two views of what happened yesterday. First, U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton:

“When the attack came yesterday Libyans stood and fought to defend
our post. Some were wounded,” Clinton said. “Libyans carried Chris’ body
to the hospital and helped rescue and lead other Americans to safety.”

He said Stevens, 52, and other officials were moved to a second
building, deemed safer, after the initial wave of protests at the
consulate. According to al-Sharef, members of the Libyan security team
seem to have indicated to the protesters the building to which the
American officials had been relocated, and that building then came under
attack.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

SARAH PALIN: 'THE U.S. EMBASSY IN CAIRO APOLOGIZED TO THE VIOLENT MOB.'

Apparently
President Obama can’t see Egypt and Libya from his house. On the
anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks ever perpetrated on America,
our embassy in Cairo and our consulate in Benghazi were attacked by
violent Islamic mobs. In Cairo, they scaled the walls of our embassy,
destroyed our flag, and replaced it with a black Islamic banner. In
Benghazi, the armed gunmen set fire to our consulate and killed an
American staff member.

The Islamic radicals claim that these attacks are
in protest to some film criticizing Islam. In response to this, the
U.S. embassy in Cairo issued a statement that was so outrageous many of
us thought it must be a satire. The embassy actually apologized to the
violent mob attacking us, and it even went so far as to chastise those
who use free speech to “hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.” (Funny,
the current administration has no problem hurting the “religious
feelings” of Catholics.)

But where is the president’s
statement about this? These countries represent his much touted “Arab
Spring.” How’s that Arab Spring working out for us now? Have we received
an apology yet from our “friends” in the Muslim Brotherhood for the
assault on our embassy?

It’s about time our president stood
up for America and condemned these Islamic extremists. I realize there
must be a lot on his mind these days – what with our economy’s abysmal
jobless numbers and Moody’s new warning about yet another downgrade to
our nation’s credit rating due to the current administration’s failure
to come up with a credible deficit reduction plan. And, of course, he
has a busy schedule – with all those rounds of golf, softball interviews
with the “Pimp with the Limp,” and fundraising dinners with his
corporate cronies.

But our nation’s security should be of utmost
importance to our Commander-in-chief. America can’t afford any more
“leading from behind” in such a dangerous world. We already know that
President Obama likes to “speak softly” to our enemies. If he doesn’t
have a “big stick” to carry, maybe it’s time for him to grow one.

Mitt Romney
late Tuesday condemned reported attacks on two U.S. diplomatic posts in
the Middle East and said President Obama bungled the American response
by trying “to sympathize” with the attackers.

“I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi,” Mr. Romney said in a statement from his campaign. “It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”

The attacks were believed to be a response to a U.S.-produced film that the attackers believed was blasphemous to Islam.

After the Cairo attack the U.S. embassy issued a statement that seemed to try to place blame not on the attackers but on the makers of the film.

“The embassy
of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by
misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims — as we
condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions,” the embassy
said in the statement. “Today, the 11th anniversary of the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring
our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to
the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone
of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse
the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of
others.”

The attacks and Mr. Romney’s criticism of the Obama administration come at a time when tensions over U.S. involvement in the Middle East are already high.

Mr.
Obama is trying to chart a path that continues diplomatic efforts to
stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, even as Israel’s prime
minister is pushing for the U.S. to draw a “red line” it will not allow
Iran’s program to cross.

That has sparked tension between Mr. Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 11, 2012

I only wish moderate American Muslims would speak out with more force and clarity against radical Islam! But they don't.

No commemoration of the day that 3,000 people were murdered by Muslim
terrorists would be complete without more Muslim whining that they are
the real victims of their own attacks.

CNN has decided that the best way to commemorate September 11 would be with an editorial from one Sumbul Ali-Karamali with the obscene title, “American Muslims live in fear 11 years after 9/11″.

Right. They do. It’s not Americans who have to live in fear. It’s not
Americans who are targeted for terrorist plots by Muslims in America
every single year. It’s not Americans who are afraid of being killed,
it’s Muslims, who have to “live in fear” because someone somewhere said
something mean to them.

Shall we compare the number of Americans killed by Muslims in the
last ten years with the number of Muslims in America killed for reasons
of prejudice? The numbers would be lacking to the point of absurdity.

This shameless whinefest isn’t about fear, it’s about political influence.
It’s devoid of even the faintest tinge of human decency. Like the
Ground Zero Mosque, the goal is to hijack the dialogue and make it all
about Muslims. On September 11 and on Ground Zero, there is this
egotistical obsession with defiling even the graves of the dead.

“The defamatory rhetoric directed at Muslims and Islam in this
country has little to do with the actual religion or its adherents and
everything to do with fear of the Other,” Sumbul Ali-Karamali asserts.

Clearly. Today we commemorate an event that had no basis in reality,
just fear of the other. The World Trade Center, Fort Hood, Times Square,
the Portland Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Christmas Flight
Bombing Plot and so many others… just fear of the other.

There’s nothing about Islam that leads its adherents to commit
violence. And when terrorist after terrorist gets up in court and quotes
the Koran, that has nothing to do with Islam. Over a thousand years of
horrifying atrocities never happened either.

Verne Strickland Blogmaster / September 11, 2012

Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers

In his speech last night (Sept. 6) at the Democratic National
Convention in Charlotte, President Obama emphasized “the basic bargain
at the heart of America’s story: the promise that hard work will pay
off; that responsibility will be rewarded; that everyone gets a fair
shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same
rules…”

All that rhetoric sounds good, but Obama’s words are
misleading.

Consider the following example. Duke Energy CEO, Jim
Rogers, from Charlotte, has donated about $30,000 to the Obama campaign
and even more (around $55,000) to the Democratic National Committee over
the past few years. His company extended a $10 million line of credit for the vastly underfunded and poorly attended Charlotte convention. He even appeared on CNN touting the President’s energy policies.

And what has he gotten in return? Taxpayer money to the tune of $230.4 million
and hundreds of thousands more in grant money to fund various projects
including the development of the unsuccessful Chevrolet Volt.

Even today, the News and Observer
announced that Duke Energy has graciously donated two new charging
stations for electric cars in the town of Cary.

According to the
columnist, these stations are “free.” In reality, people who cannot
afford expensive electric vehicles are being forced to subsidize power
for those who can.

So according to Obama, the definition of fairness is
playing favorites, and according to the media, a company is charitable
when it receives taxpayer dollars and gives it back to them in the form
of public services that are only needed by wealthier people.

The kind of cronyism that Obama and the DNC have
perpetuated means that rich businessmen in our own state are being
helped at the expense of the rest of us. Obama at the same time credits
himself with creating an economic climate where “everyone gets a fair
shot” and implements policies that directly contradict that principle.
So despite all of last night’s flowing rhetoric, actions still speak
louder than words.

Police have arrested Gloria Brackett, 52, of Atlanta, Ga., and have
charged her with unlawful carrying of a pistol and pointing and
presenting a firearm, but Fisher said other federal agencies like the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Capitol Police are also
investigating the incident, so more charges are possible.

VERNE STRICKLAND'S TAKE

No ties, you say? Maybe not. But what the hell?

Seems to me the main issue is the fact that this lady was a reckless endangerment, and pointed a pistol with four live slugs in it at a U.S. Congressmen. Could have been a major tragedy for all concerned.Closed case where that's concerned.

But no one can seem to get close to a motive here -- at least at this point. So what's the problem? The incident was reportedly witnessed by police. Even in some successfully prosecuted murder cases, motive was never proven.

What's up with all the clanging cymbals here? To coin a phrase, and a memorable phrase at that: "It is a tale told by an idiot -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." (This sounds like something from the Holy Bible. Silly me. It's a line from Billy Shakespeare's masterpiece, "Macbeth".) And who's the idiot? Best guess may turn out to be local Public Safety Director Tony Fisher.

Well, call me crazy (which happens and more where my theories are concerned), but while the law seems troubled about why the woman endangered the good Congressman, it can hardly be denied that Ms. Brackett did it (allegedly, at least, to be completely PC).

And here's another idiotic assumption -- authorities say the Atlanta woman charged with
pointed a loaded gun at a South Carolina congressmanlikely didn't know
the man's position.
The "authority" in question appears to be the aforementioned Spartanburg Public Safety Director A. Tony Fisher, respected veteran in local police annals, and the first African
American to hold this position.

Chief Fisher, who surely deserves respect, obviously is not distinguishing himself in his treatment of this hot-button confrontation.

What does Chief Fisher imply -- that if Brackett had realized she was threatening a U.S. congressman instead of a regular run-of-the-mill white dude in a suit, she would have reconsidered? I don't buy that. And what does it mean anyway?

Well this is more of a hurtful presumption than anything we've heard yet in this circus. Director Fisher, at least in the early going, apparently has some inner conflicts about the incident, and is trying to lighten the load on the alleged assailant, a black woman.

And let's toss this in -- the victim here is not only a white male, but a conservative Republican lawmaker! Stats from his staff show that he is a first-term congressman from the Fourth District. origin-www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/staff/?id=11308So let's go for the jugular -- out-of-work black woman with a rap sheet points a deadly weapon at a well-dressed white man minding his own business (in a church parking lot, no less). The possibility of racist and class distinctions here by the (alleged) perpetrator is hard to ignore.

And -- African-American senior police officer seems to be throwing out distractions in describing the obviously unlawful and dangerous acts of an African-American brandishing a loaded gun.

What other gripes do I have here? One that rears its ugly head in many a news story I comment on is "selective indignation" by liberal media. To wit, if a white man of any description were to flash a gun and aim it at a black congressman, would he be chased down by a lynch mob?

Can't believe that. But would it get more coverage? I maintain it would get a string of blaring headlines, and the lead position on cable and television. Ain't no way that's fair, right or honest.

Who's getting the short end of the stick these days? We all know the answer to that. And we're also beginning to understand why it's happening.And that ain't pretty. There's a lot wrong with the way this case is going.

The whole smoldering mess needs to be put under the microscope via an independent and unbiased investigation.

Police have arrested Gloria Brackett, 52, of Atlanta, Ga., and have
charged her with unlawful carrying of a pistol and pointing and
presenting a firearm, but Fisher said other federal agencies like the
Federaul Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Capitol Police are also
investigating the incident, so more charges are possible.

Fisher said that Brackett approached Gowdy's vehicle Sunday and
tapped on his window as he was waiting outside the First Baptist Church
in Spartanburg to pick up a family member. Gowdy told police that she
then told him to quit following her.

When Gowdy tried to explain to her
why he was at the church, Brackett allegedly pointed a gun, later
identified as a CZ Model 70, 32 caliber semi-automatic pistol, at the
congressman, who immediately threw his car into reverse. The suspect
then reportedly tried to follow Gowdy on foot through the parking lot.

At that time, Fisher said Gowdy left the church and drove four blocks
to the Public Safety Office, where he was able to provide police with a
description of the suspect. Police began to search the area and found
Brackett with a semi-automatic pistol with four bullets in the clip, as
well as a box of bullets in her possession.

Fisher said that after extensive interviews with Brackett, they do
not believe the incident was politically motivated in any way. He added
that though they haven't determined whether or not Brackett has any
mental disturbance that may have contributed to the confrontation, he
believes such assessments are sure to be made in the coming days. He
later added that Brackett had been cooperative with investigators, but
that they still don't know why she perceived Gowdy as a threat. "(There is) no motive to our knowledge," he added.

Fisher said that Brackett is a native of Cowpens and had been
visiting family members and had been dropped off at the bus station to
return to her home in Atlanta. She'd been in the Upstate for roughly a
week.
Fisher said Brackett left the bus station and was wandering near
the church at the time of the incident. Witnesses who spoke with police
said they saw her around the church at the time of the confrontation,
but did not see the exchange itself.

Fisher said Brackett is no stranger to the law, having had previous
offenses with other law enforcement agencies to include: Atlanta Police,
Fulton County, Jackson County and Gwinnett County.
He said there is no reason to believe that Brackett had any
previous connection with Gowdy or that the two knew each other prior to
this incident. Police say the weapon used in the confrontation, which
belonged to Brackett's family in Cowpens, came back clear after a check
of the firearm.

Fisher said they are working with the Spartanburg County Solicitor's
Office and with federal law enforcement officials to determine if the
incident meets the requirement for federal prosecution.

"Someone with a weapon and ammunition is clearly a danger to the community," Fisher said.
Patch is awaiting a statement from Rep. Gowdy on the matter.

Spartanburg Public Safety Department reported that Gowdy was able to
drive away from the incident. The incident happened about 8:10 p.m. at
First Baptist Church Spartanburg, while Gowdy was waiting to pick up his
daughter.

The woman, Gloria Brackett, 52, was arrested following the incident.

A press conference is scheduled for Monday morning with more information about the incident.
The Spartanburg Public Safety Department is investigating.

It had nothing to do with politics. The mental
institution she was maintained at had closed due to ther state cutting
off the funds. The welfare office is and hour drive from where she lives
and is only opened every other Thursday. She has no car, no money
festering sores all over her legs from sleeping near a marsh and being
bitten all night by bugs. She just wanted a few dollars so she could eat
that night. The only person she saw in the parking lot that looked like
he had any money was that guy.

So I guess you are one of those people who blame
Obama for everything. This is clearly an unbalanced person who got hold
of a gun. Did the GOP get the blame when Gabby Giffords was actually
gunned down? Its comments like these that show the polarization of the
US.